ORIGINAL PAPER Risk factors associated with camel brucellosis in Jordan Ahmad M. Al-Majali & Khaled M. Al-Qudah & Yasser H. Al-Tarazi & Odeh F. Al-Rawashdeh Accepted: 14 September 2007 / Published online: 3 October 2007 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007 Abstract During the period between February, 2004 and December, 2006, a cross-sectional study was performed to investigate some epidemiological aspects related to camel brucellosis in Jordan. Four hundred twelve camel sera from 37 herds were randomly collected and analyzed using Rose Bengal plate test and complement fixation test. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered to collect information on camel herd health and management. A multivariable logistic regression model was con- structed to investigate risk factors associated with seropositivity to Brucella antigens. Moreover, the incidence of Brucella-specific abortion was investi- gated in 7 camel herds located in different locations in Southern Jordan. The true prevalence of Brucella- seropositive in camels was 12.1%. Thirteen (35.1%) herds had at least one positive camel. The seropreva- lence of brucellosis in camels was significantly higher in the southern part of Jordan than that in central or northern Jordan. The multivariable logistic regression model on both individual and herd levels revealed large herds and contact with small ruminants as risk factors for Brucella seropositivity. On the other hand, using disinfectants was identified as a protective factor (OR=0.8; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.9) only on the camel herd level. The incidence of Brucella-caused abortion was 1.9%. Brucella melitensis biotype 3 was isolated from 4 aborted camel fetuses. Keywords Camels . Brucellosis . Prevalence . Risk factors . Jordan Abbreviations RBPT Rose Bengal plate test CFT complement fixation test OR odd ratio CI confidence interval Introduction Brucellosis is a disease of high economic and public health importance and has a worldwide distribution. The magnitude of this disease in developing countries is more severe due to lack of appropriate control measures (Abbas and Agab 2002). The epidemiology of brucellosis in cattle and small ruminants in different geographical locations has been investigated Trop Anim Health Prod (2008) 40:193–200 DOI 10.1007/s11250-007-9080-7 A. M. Al-Majali (*) : K. M. Al-Qudah : O. F. Al-Rawashdeh Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan e-mail: almajali@just.edu.jo Y. H. Al-Tarazi Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan